Robert Lawrence MCcoy was born in Bellwood, PA to John E. and Alice (Stine) MCCoy.
He married Bernice B. Conrad, March 28, 1942 in Cumberland, Maryland; They have 3 chidlren - John, Jane and Katey, 7 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Bernice passed away in Dec. 31, 1995; their son John on May 25, 2008.
He graduated from Bellwood-Antis High School in 1940. In 1941 he went into Civil Service training in Aircraft Maintenance (in Middleton, PA.).
Per order dated Aug. 12, 1942 from HQ, Trans-Atlantic Sector, Air Transport Command, Bolling Field, D.C "Under the provision allowing the Air Transport Command to draw by enlistment certain qualified personnel, it is requested that - Robert L. McCoy be enlisted for the Air Transport Command and sent to Las Vegas , New Mexico for basic training...."
After his basic training at Camp Luna, New Mexico he was assigned to the 10th AF Ferrying Squadron, Air Transport Command, Bolling Field, D.C. as airplane mechanic - this was directly due to his prior training "in privite life" as an airplane mechanic.
Induction orders dated Oct. 27, 1943 - show he was ordered to report 7:45a on 9 Nov. 1943 at Weightman School in Washington D.C.
He went to Gunnery School in Florida; He also served at McCook, Field, NE as an MP. He was in the Marshall Islands Nov. 1944; When he arrived (approx. Jan 1945) they were still building the field.
After the war he returned to Civil Service working on aircraft in Washington, D.C. at Bolling Field and Andrews AFB. He worked for Atlantic Aviation, Wilington, DE. after his retirement with 30 yrs from Civil Service. As such he worked on C5's at Dover, AFB. He left Atlantic Aviation, took a few years off. Later he went to work for McDonald Douglas Testing Program at Pax River Naval Air Base testing the F18 "Hornet"
His hobbies are hunting, fishing and target shooting.